Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.

Photo essay: A Jolly Rogers good time!

A Bonaparte’s Gull comes out of the water with a fish at Jolly Roger’s Marina while other Bonaparte’s Gulls and a Ring-Billed Gull circle above.A Yellow-rumped Warbler watched us eat at a park.A Bonaparte’s Gull (from left), a first winter Herring Gull, and a Ring Billed Gull flying. The Herring was being chased by the other two at one point.The Bonaparte’s Gulls were the most abundant.Bonaparte’s Gulls dive for fish.Bonaparte’s Gulls fly above a Common Loon resurfacing with a fish.We headed to the farthest point in the marina dock and was met with a pair of Canada Geese.Eventually, the female laid down beside us. The next day, she laid three to four eggs in the same spot.The male tolerated us in their area, but not other Canada Geese. He would chase them away and then swim back in the above place.A Common Loon was the first to bravely swim near us.Later, we would spot a Pacific Loon with other Common Loons.eventually Red-breasted Mergansers joined the Common Loon.More Red-breasted Mergansers swam past us to where the boats were docked.The darn gulls wouldn’t leave the Red-breasted Mergansers alone.A Common Loon and a lone Bufflehead get scared off along with a Bonaparte’s Gull.Near the end, the gulls went a little crazy with the Red-breasted Mergansers and the loons (not pictured) at the center.Finally, the Bufflehead Ducks headed in.We finally decided to leave our new Canada Geese friends and head home. I couldn’t resist this picture.I had just called it quits when this Eastern Phoebe appeared as I was leaving a Little Rock birder’s home. A nice way to end the day.

I previously worked as a news and sports photographer. Recently I have been enjoying wildlife photography. My approach toward bird photos is similar to sports photography. I attempt to capture mostly action and hopefully a unique perspective.